Why hello there, loyal readers! Yes, I know I have not kept true to my word about updating all the time but, what can I say? Life is crazy!! I took the MPRE on Friday (which was much harder than I thought it would be, so I need extra fingers and toes crossed on my behalf), and I went to the beach this weekend with Deac, his cousin, and his cousin's wife. Not my best beach weekend experience - in part because the Outer Banks No-See-Ems decided to use me as an all-you-can-eat buffet. Inspired by Hyperbole and a Half, I decided to draw you guys a picture of my misery so that you might, perhaps, share in it with me (because misery certainly does love company!):
So now I'm back at home and at work, trying not to rip the flesh off of my body for the itching. At least I got to move seats now so I'm not in a fishbowl anymore, and I can blog on my lunch break! Hooray! And now that I've gotten your skin empathetically crawling, I shall move on to today's true Trash Talk topic (say that three times fast!):
OPINIONS AHEAD.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Let me be clear here, though. I LOOOOOVE The Closer. Seriously LOVE it. It's one of my most favoritest shows ever. But it's the topic of Trash Talk this week because there IS something about it that bugs me.
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (the lovely and talented Kyra Sedgwick) is a homicide detective in LA who hails from the ATL. To be specific, she's from Roswell, GA - a suburb of Atlanta. Who else lived in Roswell? Yep - that would be yours truly. Brenda's ridiculously southern accent does prove to be a major part of her charm, but - hate to break it to you - people from Atlanta really don't talk like that. I spent 23 of my 31 years (and the most formidable 23 at that) in ATL 'burbs, and I have been told that I have no discernible accent. None. Sure, every now and then I'll say something that gives my (proud) southern heritage away, but I definitely don't come off as a hick. Neither do my parents or siblings.
Atlanta is a varietal cornucopia of cultures, and is one of the most diverse cities in the country. There are a crap-ton of relos (relocated persons) in the city and suburbs, which has contributed to the obliteration of the stereotypical redneck accent that is rumored to permeate the metropolis.
Note - I am NOT speaking for the rest of the state of Georgia (which is FILLED with "My Name is Earl-esque characters); I am just talking about the City of Atlanta, and the Atlanta-Metro area (which has a radius of roughly 100 miles).
Roswell is only about 15 minutes from downtown, and borders the swanky suburbs of Dunwoody and Buckhead - the height of class in the ATL. No hicks in sight. I know that, if you go way out to the outskirts of Roswell, you may find a heavy accent or two, but it's not the norm these days. Brenda isn't old enough to have developed that accent as a result of growing up in Roswell (especially if she lived in the area where she would've been zoned to Roswell High School - which she states in the season 3 finale that she was). So, the show gets the stink-eye from me for perpetuating the myth that Atlantans are hicks (and implying that southerners are slow and stupid - which is ironic, considering Brenda is actually a frickin' genius and mastermind of criminal justice). If they wanted to do that, they should've written her character so that she was from Macon, or Millegeville, or Snellville or something.
End rant.
Oh - if you're not a Closer fan, or have no idea what I'm talking about, watch the following clips. They should give you an idea. And, friends and followers from the ATL - let me know if you agree with my assessment. (Sorry - for some reason, embedding is disabled on all "The Closer" clips on YouTube. Lame!)
Crazy Bride Scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSxTzm-EScQ&feature=related
Lt. Provenza Mimics Brenda (VERY funny):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-F4Gwor1ao
(Sorry my posts kind of suck these days, by the way. I'm trying to get back in the groove. A month-long blogging hiatus has a way of stealing your muse and putting up quite the writer's block. Don't give up on me yet, though. I promise to tell you when it's hopeless and you can stop reading...)
2 comments:
That graphic and your description has made me itchy as could be.
I need to start watching the Closer. So many people have told me that.
You DEFINITELY should watch the Closer. It's SOOO good! Just the right mix of suspense and humor. :)
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